26-05-2025
House on Solihull street will be turned into children's care home
A Solihull house will be turned into a care home for children.
Applicant Hassan Mehboob applied in March to change the use of the property in Lode Lane in March.
The plan was for the home to provide short to long-term care for children and young people, aged between eight and 18-years-old 'who have experienced behavioural, emotional, and social difficulties and/or breakdown in family life'.
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The application said the home would have a manager and two carers, who would sleep overnight at the property, working on a rota basis.
A planning statement from agents ACP Architects, included in the application, said: 'The facility will be run by Widney Children's Home Limited.
"Widney is an established company who specialize in the care of children with emotional and behavioural difficulties.
'The property is a two-storey semi-detached single dwelling constructed with masonry red/brown facing brick external walls, with a tiled hipped ended roof.
'It was last used as a single dwelling - the property is in an area of residential development.
'A facility of this nature is necessary to offer disadvantaged children the same choices, chances, and opportunities as other children. The children need to be in a normal residential environment and not in an institutional one.'
During a public consultation one neighbour complained about the driveway not being big enough, safety and noise issues.
But a report from Solihull Council officers said: 'The change of use from a C3 use to a C2 use would not significantly change the character and appearance of this residential street to such an extent that the application be refused.
"This is because the application property is to be occupied by a maximum of two children and a maximum of three staff on duty.
'This would be similar to that of an existing house located on this predominantly residential street.
'This report has demonstrated that the proposal will not be harmful to the character of the area, highway safety or the free flow of traffic, or residential amenity.'
And on May 22 Mark Andrews, the authority's head of planning, design and engagement service, gave permission for the care home, subject to conditions.
The application is available to view on the council's website by searching for application PL/2025/00670/PPFL at
